OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The pre-season accolades continue to roll in for LSU safety Craig Loston as the senior was named to his third watch list when the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to college football’s top defensive back, unveiled its list of candidates on Friday.

Loston is one of 48 players nationally up for the honor, a list that includes four standouts from the Southeastern Conference. The SEC has claimed four straight Thorpe Awards highlighted by back-to-back trophies from LSU All-Americans Patrick Peterson (2010) and Morris Claiborne (2011). LSU is one of only two schools (Texas the other) to claim back-to-back Thorpe Awards since the establishment of the accolade in 1986.

Loston will spearhead the Tiger secondary in 2013 after ranking fifth on the squad in tackles with 55 last season to go along with three interceptions. A second-team All-SEC recipient, Loston elected to return to LSU for his senior season where he is also a candidate for the Bednarik Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

The Jim Thorpe Award watch list is chosen by a screening committee who compile a list of 30-50 players. The Thorpe Award winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013 live on ESPN.